Wire extractor



Feb. 5, 1957 H. L. MGcARLEY 2,780,120

' WIRE EXTRACTOR Filed oct. 25, 1953 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 5, 1957 H. L. MccARLEY 2,780,120

WIRE EXTRACTOR -Filed 00T.. 23, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheetl 2 Y i w/ fwgf f @amg/20W tool is quite versatile and it can be advantageously employed in various assembly and installation situations; but

the iirst procedure that will be described and illustrated isV generally representative of its practicability in use.

Having made necessary measurements at the point of installation, the assembler finds the point along the length of the cable at which the inner wire must be removed from within the shielding. The point 2 of the awl portion 1 is worked in between the strands of the metallic shielding a short distance nearer the free end of the cable 18 than the point at which the wire is to be removed. Lateral movement of the awl point 2 serves to widen the opening in the shielding 16 making it possible to slide the awl member along the inner surface of the shielding so that the wire aligns within the concave channel of the awl shank.

When the awl point 2 has been advanced under the shielding to the desired point in the length of the cable, the awl point is worked outwardly through the woven shield as seen in Figure 4. The main cable body 19 is then bent downwardly close to the handle 5 as shown in Figure 5, thus piling up wrinkled folds of shielding material 16 on the awl shank adjacent the handle and causing a small loop of the less resilient inner wire 17 to form near the awl point 2.

This small loop is easily enlarged and the inner wire 17 withdrawn through the awl shank channel while the shielding material is restrained from slipping olf the awl shank by pressure of the clamp 7 as seen in Figure 6.

In addition to the particular method for extracting a portion of inner wire just described, there are certain variations of the same general manipulative procedure better suited to other circuit and installation requirements, some of which are illustrated in Figures 7 to l1, inclusive.

One variation, for instance, wherein the awl point is inserted at the square-cut end of the cable between the inner wire and the outer shielding material, rather than through the side wall of the cable, is shown in Figure 7. The awl point 2 after being inserted at cable end 20, is pressed inwardly of the length of the cable with the folds of accumulated shielding material worked downwardly on the awl shank 21 in Figure 8, then cable body 24 is drawn back against the channel shank and the awl point is pressed outwardly through the shielding layers of the cable. The cable body 24 is then drawn and twisted back and forth to enlarge the aperture 23 in cable wall and expose the inner wire the end of which is drawn from within the concave awl shank 12 in Figures 3 to 6, and outwardly through aperture 23 as indicated at 22 in Figure 8.

Another method of procedure used when it is desired to remove a very small portion of inner wire from the cable for the purpose of making a single external connection Without severing either the inner wire or the cable, is shown in Figures 9 and l0. Following the same general manipulative* methods previously described, the awl point 2 is inserted through the shielding layers of the cable at a point 25 intermediate of the ends of the cable and adjacent to the point 26 at which a small U-shaped loop of the inner wire, 27 in Figure 9, is removed and enlarged to the desired size. Then, before the awl member is withdrawn from within the cable, this U-loop is twisted to provide a closed loop as seen at 27 in Figure 10 in which the twisted section 28 prevents the accumulated shielding material 29 and 30 from closing in over the inner wire when the awl member is withdrawn from within the cable. Finally, the insulation is removed from at least a portion of the loop of wire, and the desired connection is made.

A still different method is employed when two connection lead wires are to be removed at delinitely spaced points intermediate 0f the cable ends when the lead wires are to be of specified lengths for the purpose, for instance, of incorporating an external element into the electrical circuit of which the inner wire is a part. The

location of the point of removal of the first of the two lead wires is measured oif and marked on the surface of the cable (see point K in Figure 1l) and measuring in the proper direction therefrom the distance of the desired spacing between the lead wires, the point of removal of the second lead wire P in Figure ll, is similarly marked on the surface of the cable. The exact point between the removal points K and P at which the inner wire will be severed (point S in Figure 1l) to provide the two lead wires required for connection to the external element, will depend upon the relative length of the two lead wires and upon the combined length of the two lead wires as compared with the length of the spacing between the removal points K and P. If the combined length of the two lead wires is less than the spacing between the removal points and the lead wires are to be of unequal length, the length of the rst lead wire is measured inwardly of space K-P from the proper removal point to determine the point of severance, and the second lead wire which will obviously be too long, is trimmed to proper length after removal from the cable; if the combined length of the two lead wires is less than the spacing between the removal points and the two lead wires are to be approximately the same length, the point of severance is located midway between the point K and P and the lead wires are trimmed to the desired length after removal from the cable; if, however, the combined length of the two lead wires is greater than the spacing between the removal points, the amount of spacing is increased accordingly, or the length of the first lead wire is measured inwardly from the established first point of removal, and the additional length required for the second lead wire drawn from within the cable shielding beyond point P.

Having established the location of the point of severance in either of the manners just described, the awl point 2 is inserted through cable shielding at removal point P in Figure l1 and run along the inner wire and out through cable side wall at point S, the'inner wire being exposed by means of manipulative methods previously explained. The inner wire is severed at point S, the awl member is withdrawn from within the cable shielding and re-inserted in the opposite direction through point S and is moved along the inner wire to emerge at point P through which the adjacent end portion of inner wire is removed. This procedure is then repeated from point S in the opposite direction to point K where the other end portion of inner wire is removed and, iinally, adjustment is made in the relative length of the two lead wires as previously explained.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less speciiic as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise a preferred form of putting the invention into etect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for use in withdrawing a portion of the inner wire from a shielded electric cable comprising: a shielding penetrating member having a hat rounded point at one end thereof, said member having parallel sides along a major portion of its length and extending perpendicularly on each side thereof, said sides being sufficiently spaced apart to extend around a major portion of the periphery of said inner wire in said shielded cable as said member is manipulated therebetween after penetration of said shielding, said sides being gradually reduced in height adjacent to said penetrating end to define a tapered point thereon, a handle for said member, said handle having a central cavity adapted to receive and retain the opposite end of said member, a clamping lever pivotally attached to said handle and adapted for movement toward said shielding penetrating member to rmly clamp said cable shielding therebetween while said member is manipulated inside said shielding to prevent relative movement thereof while said inner wire is withdrawn from within said shielding, and an elastic element connected between said clamping lever and said handle tending to urge said clamping lever toward said handle.

2. A tool for use in withdrawing a portion of the inner wire from a shielded electric cable comprising: a shielding penetrating member shaped to penetrate and enter said shielding and partially extend around the periphery of said inner wire in said shielded cable as said penetrating member is moved therebetween after penetration of said shielding, a handle mounted on one end of said member, and shielding clamping means connected to said handle and operable to firmly clamp said cable shielding while said penetrating member is manipulated inside said shielding to prevent relative movement of said shielding while said inner Wire is withdrawn therefrom.

3. A tool for withdrawing a portion of a wire from a shielded cable, comprising an .elongated member of channel cross-section capable of penetrating the shielding of said cable, the sides of said channeled member being sufficiently spaced apart to recess at least a major portion of the inner wire around the periphery thereof as said member is moved along the extent of said cable between said shielding and said wire, a handle mounted on the opposite end of said member, and a shielding clamp pivotally connected to said handle and movable against said shielding when said member is positioned therewithin to firmly Contact a portion of said shielding and prevent relative movement thereof as said wire is Withdrawn therefrom.

4. A tool for use in withdrawing a portion of a wire from a shielded cable, comprising an elongated member of channel cross-section capable of penetrating the exterior shielding of said cable, the sides of said channeled member being sufficiently spaced apart to recess at least a major portion of the inner wire around the periphery thereof as said member is moved along the extent of said cable between said shielding and said wire, a handle mounted on the opposite end of said member, and spring loaded clamping means connected to said handle and movable against the force of said spring to contact and clamp said shielding when said member is positioned therewithin to prevent relative movement of said shielding when said wire is withdrawn therefrom.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 777,568 Terryberry Dec. 13, 1,062,310 Waite May 20, 1913 1,187,386 Pehrson June 13, 191( 1,421,987 Quinn July 4, 192i 1,611,878 Braudes Dec. 28, 192( 1,881,247 Sperling Oct. 4, 193i 

